M&T Bank Corp Buys 26,074 Shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

M&T Bank Corp lifted its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH - Free Report) by 13.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 220,590 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock after acquiring an additional 26,074 shares during the quarter. M&T Bank Corp's holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $128,975,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Kathleen S. Wright Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 152.4% in the third quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 53 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. West Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Quarry LP raised its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 132.1% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 65 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC boosted its holdings in UnitedHealth Group by 600.0% in the second quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 70 shares of the healthcare conglomerate's stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. 87.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock traded up $10.88 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $500.13. 10,923,255 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,115,487. The stock has a market capitalization of $460.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.58, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $572.30 and a 200-day simple moving average of $559.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $436.38 and a 12-month high of $630.73.

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 15th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $7.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $7.00 by $0.15. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 3.63% and a return on equity of 26.37%. The firm had revenue of $100.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $6.56 EPS. The company's revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.61 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Monday, December 9th were paid a $2.10 dividend. This represents a $8.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.68%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 9th. UnitedHealth Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 54.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on UNH shares. Stephens increased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $605.00 to $675.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $625.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. TD Cowen boosted their price target on UnitedHealth Group from $601.00 to $609.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $595.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $626.84.

UnitedHealth Group Profile

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.